New Super Yacht Visa Is In Demand

Visa move boosts super yachts
The Cairns Post, April 30, 2008

Australia’s new super yacht visa is already drumming up business for Cairns.

Within hours of the Federal Government announcing the new visa this week, Superyacht Group Great Barrier Reef reported calls from a wealthy mariner in New Zealand keen to cross the Tasman.

The new visa allows superyacht crew members multiple-entries into Australia and to work here for up to 12 months on commercial or private superyachts.

It comes into effect from October this year.

Until now, international crews had to apply for more restrictive Maritime Crew or Business Long Stay visas.

Launching the visa at Cairns’ Marlin Marina yesterday, Immigration Minister Chris Evans said it was integral to economic development in Queensland.

‘It will allow more yachts to come here to operate as charters and we think the flow-on economic benefits are going to be huge,’ he said. ‘The industry tells me a lot more will come and, of course, they’ll spend a lot.’

Visa holders would not take Australians’ jobs because boats wouldn’t come here otherwise, he said.